Mac Keyboard Symbols
The Mac keyboard symbols in macOS menus stand for keys: ⌘ Command, ⌥ Option, ⇧ Shift, ⌃ Control, ⇪ Caps Lock and ⌫ Delete. So ⇧⌘4 means Shift + Command + 4. Click a symbol to copy it.
Click any symbol to copy it. 27 symbols
Modifier keys
5Arrow keys
4How to read a Mac shortcut
macOS writes shortcuts with symbols in a fixed order: Control ⌃, Option ⌥, Shift ⇧, then Command ⌘, followed by the key. ⌥⌘Esc is Option + Command + Escape (Force Quit), ⇧⌘3 takes a screenshot and ⌃⌘Space opens the Character Viewer. Apple lists the symbols on its own page, Mac keyboard shortcuts.
Where the ⌘ symbol comes from
The Command symbol is officially named PLACE OF INTEREST SIGN (U+2318). Susan Kare, the designer of the original Macintosh icons, chose it in 1984 from a symbol used on Scandinavian signs for points of interest, after Steve Jobs objected to using the Apple logo on a key. The command key symbol page has its codes; the option key symbol ⌥ is a stylised railway switch.
How to type these symbols
None of them has an Option shortcut. On a Mac, press ⌃⌘Space, search for “command” or “option” and double-click. In Word, type the hex code and press Alt + X: 2318 for ⌘, 2325 for ⌥, 21E7 for ⇧ and 2303 for ⌃. Technical writers often set ⌘ in the same font as the body text; if it shows as a box, the reader's font lacks it, and spelling out “Cmd” is safer. For the letters and punctuation the Option key itself produces, see the Mac Option key shortcuts guide, and for Windows and ASCII keys see keyboard symbols.
Frequently asked questions
What does ⌘ mean on a Mac?
⌘ is the Command key, the main modifier for shortcuts on a Mac. ⌘C copies, ⌘V pastes and ⌘Q quits an app.
Which symbol is the Option key?
⌥ (U+2325) is the Option key, also labelled Alt on many Mac keyboards. It types special characters, such as Option + G for ©.
What is the ⌃ symbol on a Mac?
⌃ is the Control key. It is used in shortcuts such as ⌃⌘Space for the Character Viewer and ⌃ + click for a right-click.
What does ⇧⌘ mean?
It means Shift + Command pressed together. For example ⇧⌘4 lets you capture part of the screen.